and the poignancy of my regret was
heightened when I remembered that I had placed myself in my present
predicament without any necessity or an adequate object. I had little
time, I own, to indulge in such reflections, for all my thoughts and
feelings were soon engrossed with the danger which immediately
threatened me. Jerry ran along the shore as I was carried by, in vain
stretching out his arms as if he would help me. Old Surley sat still,
only now and then uttering a low whine, as if well aware of our peril,
but feeling that he was unable to render me aid. Now and then he looked
into the water, as if he would like to swim ashore, which he might
possibly have done; but then, perhaps, he remembered the shark he had
seen, or he was unwilling to desert me. I truly believe that it was the
latter cause made him remain so quiet by my side. I am certain, from
the expression of his countenance and the turn of his head, that he was
fully aware of our danger.

I paddled and paddled away with all my might, all the time facing the
shore, and getting nearer to it, but at the same time gliding down
seaward. I was about a hundred yards from the shore. I looked towards
the angry breakers, and was not more than twice that distance from the
mouth of the channel. In a small boat there would have been no danger,
but I found my raft a very heavy thing to move. I put still greater
force into my strokes. My paddle snapped in two. Jerry uttered a cry
of despair, for he thought I must now inevitably be lost. I seized the
spare paddle, and flourishing it above my head, began to ply it as I had
done the first. I made some progress, but not sufficient, I feared, to
attain my object. I was approaching the last point. Jerry ran out to
the end of it, and rushed into the water up to his arm-pits, hoping to
stop the raft. I shouted to him to go back; for at that moment I saw
close to me the fin of a monster shark. The savage fish darted on
towards him, and he was barely in time to escape his ravenous jaws by
springing into shallow water. Had he caught hold of the raft, I saw
that he would be lifted off his legs, and carried away with me. Still I
hoped to get within his reach where he stood. But vain was the wish: I
drifted past the point. What hope had I now of being preserved? I felt
inclined to throw away my paddle, and to give myself up to despair. But
I aroused myself. I bethought me how Cousin Silas would have behaved
und